In the News

A Swipe at Stereotypes: Studio Academy avoids cheesy in taking a shot with ‘Profile’

By Christina Killion Valdez ckillion@postbulletin.com

October 12, 2004

Dumb jocks, fashion-conscious homosexuals, self-centered supermodels and computer savvy Asians join forces in Studio Academy High School’s latest production to make a statement about stereotypes.

"Oh no, this is going to be one of those cheesy plays that preach at you like a lame public-service announcement," groans sophomore Alex Davis at the beginning of the production.

Not if the students in the community interaction theater class can help it.

At one point during "Profile," the student-written play, sophomore Matthew Chase sails through a string of one-liners in a spoof of the popular make-over show "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy." Moment’s later, senior Nikki Dahlen coos over silverware while playing every guy’s dream date.

"The majority of the script is funny," said instructor Forrest Musselman. "We can joke around about it and be serious at the same time."

The seriousness of stereotyping is understood by the students as well as Mayo Clinic’s department of education services’ diversity committee, which commissioned the play.

Last year’s community-wide focus on racial profiling prompted the council to seek more information on the subject, said Mark Rieder, chair of the diversity committee, which aims to raise awareness about diversity issues among members of the department.

The committee first considered hiring a professional theater troupe to address the subject, Rieder said. Then they found out about the community interaction theater class, he said.

"Studio Academy, to us, seems to embrace diversity," Rieder said. "We thought they could develop a thought-provoking play."

To help the students do just that the diversity committee hosted a couple diversity workshops for the students in concert with the Rochester Diversity Council.

During a workshop on white privilege, the students played a game to learn how certain factors affect how people get ahead in life.

Coming out on top of the game was Dahlen. In the game, "I was an athletic, white male, who’s parents were rich and I was going to an ivy league school," she said.

Taking last place was senior Ashley Andrews. "I was a Latino who dropped out of high school because my mother needed help with the kids," she said.

The students also drew from their own experiences to develop the skits and monologues that make up the play.

Problems stemming from stereotypes can be seen in every high school, even among adults, Dahlen said.

"I don’t know if there is one student who can name three people who haven’t said something about someone else," Andrews agreed.

At one point, during the play’s development, the students listed all of the stereotypes they could think of.

"There were a lot more than I knew of," Chase said. "Like Jewish people are cheap or rich."

"Asians are good with video games," Andrews added.

"They use a lot of meth in Iowa," added sophomore Brad Fabian, "and all white people are geeks."

To create the play, they picked the most offensive stereotypes from their list, Fabian said.

"Things we hear," added junior Andy Snider.

The fact that all the actors are white is also addressed in the play. "That we are all white kind of makes a stronger point because we are talking about it," Dahlen said.

Now they are looking for people to listen.

The students will present the play at Mayo Clinic for the department of education services on Dec. 10. "Profile" is also available to local middle and high schools through the end of the semester.

© 2004 Post Bulletin. Used by permission.

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